Copyholder



March 1934- B. E. VAN ALSTINE COPYHOLDER Filed April 25, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. BONNIE E KJ/V 14L577NE.

A TTORN E Y5.

Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in copy holders, and anobject is to provide a copy holder of the character described that iscomparatively simple in construction and at the same time will serveseveral distinct purposes. The

device illustrated and claimed in the present application is animprovement over the device described in my previous application SerialNo. 380,- 163 filed July 22, 1929, patented May 16, 1933, No. 1,908,874.

More particularly it is proposed to provide a copy holder that willserve three different functions: of holding an end-bound note book ofconventional form, individual sheets of paper, or endwise opening bounddocuments of varying thicknesses.

It is further proposed in the present invention to provide a new meansfor supporting a copy holding element in reading position at any desiredangle.

It is further proposed in the present invention to provide a means forfirmly holding a note book, sheets of paper, or endwise opening bounddocu ments of varying thicknesses in reading position on the copyholder.

It is further proposed to provide a simple means for indicating the linewhich is to be copied from stenographic notes or typewritten matter andfor indicating on said line indicator by means of scales varioushorizontal distances. These scales correspond with the scale on atypewriter, enabling a typist to make a copy with facilities for theutmost speed and accuracy.

It is further proposed to provide means for detachably securing the copyholding element to a supporting frame in such a manner that the formercan be removed from the latter and the copy holding element may then beused advantageously by printers and public speakers. In this simpleform, the copy holding element is particularly adapted to be placed in ahorizontal position.

Moreover, it is proposed to provide means for allowing the copy holdingelement and its supporting member to be folded into a compact unit, andin this connection I provide yielding means for readily holding thedevice in folded position.

It is further proposed to provide means for adjusting the copy holdingelement into various angular positions with respect to its supportingmember, these means being secured in an outof-the-way position when thedevice is folded.

It is further proposed to provide convenient means for supporting a notebook that is hinged at its upper edge which allows the pages thereof tobe turned over with ease and means incorporated therewith for firmlyholding the book in reading position as the pages are turned.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in connectionwith a line indicator, an adjustable column indicator which faciltatesthe downward reading of vertically aligned figures.

It is further proposed to simplify the various structural featuresnecessary for carrying out the above objects in such a manner that thecopy holder may be cheaply manufactured, easily manipulated, and readilyprepared for the particular function which it is to serve.

Further objects and advantages of my inven tion will appear as thespecification proceeds.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of my device having a conventional note bookattached thereto.

Figure 2 a side view of the device shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 a horizontal section taken along line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 a sectional detail view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 a sectional detail view taken along 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 a vertical section taken substantially along the line '7'7 ofFigure 2 with the U-shaped handle and the bracing members in raisedposition, and the note book omitted,

Figure 8 a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 8-8 of Figure7,

Figure 9 a perspective view of a portion of the device, and Figure 10 isa fragmentary side elevation of the upper part of the copy holdingelement showing sheets of paper secured thereto, the clamping meanspartly in section.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish tohave it understood that various changes or modifications may be madewithin the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

In its present form my copy holder comprises a supporting frame 1, acopy holding element 2, and braces 3 supporting the latter relative tothe former at any desired anglev The frame 1 may be of any suitable formand comprises a rectangular plate having parallel side edges 5 andsuitably supported on folding legs 6. These legs are secured to thesupporting frame 1 so as to be swingable against the underside of theframe for decreasing the height of the copy holder above the supportingsurface. Any suitable means (not shown) may be employed for holding thelegs in extended or folded position. The copy holding element 2 isdetachably hinged to the front edge of the supporting frame as shown at'7 and has the two braces 3 pivoted to its back as shown at 8, thebraces being adapted for engagement with sockets 9 formed in the sideedges of the frame. These sockets correspond in position on oppositesides of the frame and are preferably numbered as shown in Figure 4 toindicate the location of corresponding sockets. It is easy for astenographer, once she has lee-- come used to a certain reading positionof the copy holder, to always obtain the same reading position byintroducing the braces 3 into corresponding sockets of the same number.

It should be par cularly noted that the hinges '7 consist of twosections and 11 that are secured to the supporting frame 1 and the copyholding element 2 respectively by means of screws or other suitablefastening means. In the present illustration, the sections 11 areprovided with laterally extending pins 12 that are slidably androtatably received in aligned openings 13 in the sections 10.

Referring now to Figures 2 and '7, it will be observed that thecomponent sections of the hinges '7 are normally prevented from becomingdisengaged by a slidably mounted stop 14 which extends above the planeof the supporting me1nbeer and abuts against one of the sections 11. Thestop 14 is fashioned with a hand-gripping portion at its outer end. Whenthe stop 14 is retracted so as to clear the sections 11, the entire copyholding element may be moved laterally with respect to the supportingmember 1 and may be detached therefrom for use around printing offices,by public speakers, or for any other use for which it may be adapted. Inthis simple form, the copy holding element particularly adapted to beplaced in a horizontal position.

In Figure 7 I have shown the braces 3 as being moved in parallelrelation with the back of the copy holding element and secured theretoby two spring clips 16. The braces are placed in this out-of-the-wayposition when the copy holding element is detached from the supportingmemher. The two braces are only necessary for heavy law books, etc., onebrace being entirely suflicient for ordinary work, the other beingfolded and locked in inactive position.

A spring clip 17 projects from the back or" the copy holding element asclearly shown in Figures 2 and '7, and is adapted to overlie the edge 18of the supporting member 1 so as to firmly clamp the copy holder in afolded position. It should be understood that when the copy holdingele-- ment is clamped to the supporting member, the braces 3 are firstplaced in the clips 16.

The copy holdin element comprises a rectangular plate 19 having slightlyraised side edges 20 forming an intermediate recess 22 across which isstretched a bar 21 that thus is spaced from the bottom of the recess ofthe copy ho1ding element by the normal thickness of the cover 23 of anote book, so that the latter may be intro duced between the bar and theplate, and be closely held to the holder with its upper edgesubstantially on the level with the upper edge of the plate. Toaccommodate the varying lengths of shorthand note books, which usuallyvary from eight inches to eleven and one-quarter inches, 2. slot 24 isprovided in the plate and has a screw 25 sli able therein, the screwcarrying a nut 26 which, when tightened upon the plate, will hold thescrew in adjusted position for supporting the bottom edge of the notebook cover. The bottom of the slot at 27 for facilitating theintroduction of the screw into the slot. The sides 28 of the screw arepreferably flattenec so as to prevent the screw from rotating in theslot.

The upper edge of the copy holding element has a supporting member 29extending rearwardly therefrom, this member being used to give supportto the overturned portion of the note book as clearly illustrated inFigure 2. The supporting member 29 may have clips 30 pivoted thereto,see Figure 7, which latter adapted to be sprung over the upper cover 23of the note book for holding the same in place, if the weight of theover-turned cover and pages is not suflicient for this purpose.

A U-shaped strip of metal 31 is pivoted to the sides of the member 29 asshown at 32, and may be used for clamping sheets of paper and endwiseopening bound documents of various thicknesses, if swung from theposition shown in Figure 7 into the position indicated in Figures 1 and2, while it may be used as a handle for carrying the entire device whenswung into a vertical position.

If an endwise opening document is bound with such means that it will notbe practicable to remove the fasteners, as, for instance, a largeabstract of title, it is only necessary to insert the last one or a fewpages of the document under the member 31, allowing the remainder of thepages to fall downward over the face of the member 31; in other words,the document is held in place on the face of the copy holding element.

Figure 1c shows the leading edge 32 of the U- shaped member 31 beveledon the inside thereof so as to firmly grip the sheets of paper on thecopy holder, and will prevent them from being cut or marred as themember is swung into operative position.

Adjacent to the right edge of the supporting element 2 and in parallelrelation thereto is mounted a fiat bar 33 attached in such a manner thatit may easily be removed. For this purpose I provide guides 34 and 35which are adapted to slidably receive the bar which latter is fastenedin place at guide 35 by means of a bolt 36 and a wing nut 37. The bar 33is reversible and has both of its ends bifurcated at 38 for receivingthe bolt 36.

The bar 33 serves as a support for a line indicator 39 used for copyingfrom stenographic notes and typewritten sheets or bound endwise openingdocuments. For supporting this indicator I utilize a sleeve 40 slidablymounted on the bar 33 and held thereon by a friction spring 41. Thissleeve has a guide 42 extending therefrom, the guide being formed withguide grooves 43 extending the entire length thereof and adapted toreceive the bent end 44 of the indicator. The end 44 is slightly curvedso as to offer frictional resistance to upward and downward movement inthe guide grooves. A small clip 45 extends from the sleeve 40 and servesas a handle for pushing the same downward or upward along the bar.

When the copy holding element is detached from the supporting member 1in the manner hereinbefore set forth for use by public speakers orprinters, the copy holder can be used in a horizontal position, restingat its upper end on the rearwardly extending supporting member 29. Whenthe copy holder is so disposed, it is necessary to reverse the bar 33 soas to have the guide 42 extend in the opposite direction from that shownin Figure 5 and the line indicator is then inserted into the oppositeend of the guide.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the line indicator is found to presenta cut-away portion 46 for permitting the line indicator to move intointimate contact with the copy, irrespective of the direction in whichthe guide 42 extends. For height adjustment, therefore, it is onlynecessary to pull up or press down on line indicator 39.

The line indicator 39 is preferably marked with two sets of figures, oneset along the upper edge being scaled in pica type, that is, ten spacesto the inch, and the lower one elite type or twelve spaces to the inch,or vice versa. These scales correspond with the scale on a typewriter,enabling a typist to quickly make an accurate copy with facilities forthe utmost speed and accuracy.

The indicator bar has also two or more column indicators 4'7 slidablethereon as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The indicators consist of bodyportions 48 that encircle the indicator 39 and are provided withvertically extending pointers 49. When not in use, they are removable.The bottom of the copy holder may be pro ided with a shelf 50 forsupporting the bottom of a book.

It should also be noted that my supporting ar-- rangement for the copyholding element is particularly adapted for placing on the knee of aperson taking notes when no table or nest: is available. It isunderstood, of course, that the device may be made in various sizes, andthat if used exclusively for s enographic purposes and as a support fortaking notes, it would be made of a smaller size than if used as athree-way holder, and when so used the rearwardly-extending member 29with its attachments pivoted thereto would be omitted. When used for lapwork, only one of the braces 3 is required, and it would be inserted inone of the sockets 9 remote from the hinges 7 so that the angle betweenthe copy holding element and the supporting member 1 would be small.

I claim:

1. In a copy holder of the character described, a fiat frame having twoparallel sides formed with corresponding perforations and referenceindicia associated with each of the perforations, a copy holding elementhinged to an end portion of the frame, and braces pivoted to the elementand having bent over ends adapted to enter the perforations for holdingthe element in any desired angular relation to the frame.

2. In a copy holder of the character described, a cop holding elementhaving a recess therein, a stretched across the same intermediate itslength and slightly spaced from the bottom of the recess to allow thecover of an end-bound note book to be confined between the recessbottom. and the bar, means for anchoring both ends of the bar to thecopy holding element and a rest adjustable in the recess for supportingthe lower edge of the book.

3. In a copy holder of the character described, a supporting member, acopy holding element swingably secured thereto, means interposed betweensaid member said element for holding the element in angular position w'th respect to the supporting member, said means being movable into aninactive position, and a second named means for holding the first namedmeans in the latter position.

i. In a copy holder of the character described, a supporting member, acopy holding element swingably secured thereto, braces pivotally carriedby said element and being bearable against said supporting member forholding the element in angular position relative to the supportingmember, said braces being swingable into an inactive position againstsaid clement, and yield ing means for holding said braces in the latterposition.

5. In a copy holder of the character described, a copy holding elementhaving parallel sides, a U-sliaped member pivoted to said element andhaving a copy-engaging surface beveled on the inside thereof and beingswingable into close relation with said element with the beveled edgeleading for presenting a cam action against the printed matter forclamping printed matter to the copy holding element, said member alsobeing movable into a position whereby it serves as a handle for the copyholder.

6. In a copy holder line indicator, guide sockets adapted to be securedalong the edge of a copy holding member adjacent to the top and bottomthereof, a bar mounted in the guide sockets and formed with bifurcatedends, a bolt member carried by one of the sockets adapted to receive abifurcated end of the bar on opposite sides of the bolt, a wing nutthreaded on the bolt for anchoring the bar in place relative to thesockets, and a line indicator slidably supported by the bar.

'7. In a copy holder line indicator, a bar adapted to be mountedrelative to a copy holder in parallel relation with the latter, a sleeveslidable on the bar and fashioned with a guide, and a line indioatorformed of spring material and having one end curved and slidablyarranged in the guide with the curved end frictionally bearing againstthe guide for holding the indicator in adjusted position.

8. In a copy and book holder, a copy supporting frame having parallelsides, a U-shaped member pivoted rearwardly of the frame adjacent to thetop of the latter, and being swingable over the top of the frame inintimate contact therewith for clamping a copy to the frame or forproviding a trim strip along the upper marginal portion of the face ofthe frame.

9. In a copy holder for the character described, a horizontal baseplate, a copy holding element swingably secured to one edge thereof andbeing movable into folded position against said base plate and yieldingmeans engageable with the opposite edge of the base plate for holdingthe element and the base plate in folded position.

10. In a copy holder line indicator of the character described, a copyholding element, a bar detachably and reversibly secured thereto inparallel relation therewith and in the plane thereof, a member slidableon said bar and having a guide extending perpendicularly to the copyholding element in one direction, said guide projecting in the oppositedirection when the bar is detached and reversed, and a line indicatorcarried by said guide and extending over the face of the copy holdingelement.

11. In a copy holder of the character described, a supporting member, acopy holding element, a hinge having two sections, a pin extending fromone section and arranged to telescope into the other, one section beingsecured to the copy holding element and the other being secured to thesupporting member whereby the copy holding element may be removed fromthe supporting member by sidewise movement of the element and a slidemounted for transverse movement relative to one of the sections forlocking the latter against sidewise movement.

BONNIE E. VAN ALSTINE.

